Thursday, May 31, 2012

The difference ofappreciated and taken for granted...Is taken care of by just afew words... actually two.THANK YOU... said in earnestand with heartfelt.

Some times when one is askedto do something, from timeto time, and when the deedis done.. and nothing is said..you sort of feel used.

But when someone says thosetwo words, you feel sogood about helping out. Thatif you had to put somethingaside to do the task, it isall good. Because the person reallydid appreciate it.

It doesn't mean you expectit.. well, most of the time. You don'twant a gift, or a big hoopdee do... just the words said honestly.

When I was working, we wouldget what we called rent-a-aide.Some of them coming from asfar away as Spokane. They areaides who come in to cover amissing aide. Yes, they were paidwell by the agency that hadthem. But still I was always so appreciativethat they came and filledin.. I made sure I made it around to each of themand thank them personally,and tell them good job. It isn't easy towalk into a strange placeand know where things are and do the job.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Read that title again...18... servicemen/women...A DAY...commit suicide.We aren't talking aboutoverseas. But right here on USAsoil. 18.... A... DAY... that is mind boggling.Heart breaking.Not just the reader of thosewords...but for the families leftbehind. Wives/husbands...children... parents... grandparents.

Why is the question? Is theVA doing enough? The quick answeris no, after all we aretalking 18... 18 A DAY... I havewritten beforeabout how we take our youngmen and women, make them killingmachines, send them out todo the killing... and then bring them home,tell them live your lifenormally for a couple months.. and then send themback again.. and again.. andagain... 10 day debriefing or less doesn'tdo it. We have to do more. We have to give thesetroops more. WeOWE it to them.

It is a rare family orfriend that doesn't have some where in theirfamilies.. someone who ishurting.. and some of us, even knowof a family who had such alost in their family. We have a friend wholost his grandson that way,3years ago.. The heartache is daily.

We have a young man, in ourfamily, coming home this week fromAfghanistan, he was also inIraq just before that. I know he has beentwice at least. He is new inour family, as of last December.We are hoping that by havinga new family, children involved thathe will feel welcomed home. Andthe chores of being a dad, and husbandwill fill his heart and mindand he can find joy in that.

I pray for him, and each andevery one of our troops as they get rotated,and hopefully some day soon,they can come home for good. Home inperson and mind. We OWE them that.And may the government finally see that thatthey too, OWE them the best mental health thatcan be found for each of them.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

I don't know which is harder,... being a step parent or the spouseof a step parent. Neither is easy. And in thebeginning it can try your marriage.. And surviving thru it,attitude is 95% of how to make it thru.

Once a young man who lost his wife, who had two great kids,was talking to a friend of mine. He said his future wife was great.She loved the kids as much as he did, if not more... AND THEN,he said the words of doom... "But I am not ready to give up thereins to her to discipline the kids." My friend and I looked at himin disbelief. He just got done saying she might even love the kidsmore than he did... My friend stepped up to the plate and said.."Well, maybe you shouldn't be getting married, because beingparents is a two person job."

He had a shocked, almost hurt look on his face. But you could seehe thought about it. And then said, I will have to really think about this.."I guess I have been in charge for so long, (7 and half years)I forgot what it is like to share." My friend asked him if he was goingto continue doing all the housework with the kids only? He said no.Are you going to pay all the bills, and not talk to your wife about them?Again, no.. If there is a big decisions come up for the family... are yougoing to decide them all? Again, no... So my friend added, well, thenwhy in the hell would you not share parenting with her?Remember it is shared, not you "letting go".

Being on both sides in my life time, I can tell you..it isn't easy. Andsome times the kids don't help it be easy. They know the naturalparent is an easy mark. But ours learned really fast.. the words ofdoom for them.. "I will talk to your mom/dad about it, and let youknow". When they find out that the two parents are on the samepage, it is hard for them to put in a wedge. And that is up to bothof you parents... natural or step.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Last week we had some very pushy salespeople..They weren't satified with our no's(some said yes)sothey sent some more the next night.That is the straw that broke thiscamel's back.

We have had sales peoplebefore.. one here and another there.About 2 or 3 months apart. Use to be vacuum salesmen. But guessthey got tired of cleaningup dirt they spilt and no sales on theproduct.

Even have the Omaha Steakguy or someone like him, from time to time.But he gave up too. EvenSchwan man has given up on our neighborhood.We just aren't big buyers...

So why not these guys? Notonly they were pushy but condescending aswell. They were selling somekind of cleaner that you could even put it inyour mouth. Even when theneighbor who did buy one and came back to doa imitation act of thesalesman, we couldn't find a brand name on it.Weird.

So that is the reason whythe sign.. I have to find some place that makessigns and have a good onemade up (this one was in haste, incase theycame back.. Wonder if I sellsign maker the rights to make one like it ...will he give me a break onit. lol.. I never seen one worded like mine.May 22, 2012But what part of NO, didn't theyunderstand?

Last week we had some very pushy salespeople..They weren't satified with our no's(some said yes)sothey sent some more the next night.That is the straw that broke thiscamel's back.

We have had sales peoplebefore.. one here and another there.About 2 or 3 months apart. Use to be vacuum salesmen. But guessthey got tired of cleaningup dirt they spilt and no sales on theproduct.

Even have the Omaha Steakguy or someone like him, from time to time.But he gave up too. EvenSchwan man has given up on our neighborhood.We just aren't big buyers...

So why not these guys? Notonly they were pushy but condescending aswell. They were selling somekind of cleaner that you could even put it inyour mouth. Even when theneighbor who did buy one and came back to doa imitation act of thesalesman, we couldn't find a brand name on it.Weird.

So that is the reason whythe sign.. I have to find some place that makessigns and have a good onemade up (this one was in haste, incase theycame back.. Wonder if I sellsign maker the rights to make one like it ...will he give me a break onit. lol.. I never seen one worded like mine.

Last week we had some very pushy salespeople..They weren't satified with our no's(some said yes)sothey sent some more the next night.That is the straw that broke thiscamel's back.

We have had sales peoplebefore.. one here and another there.About 2 or 3 months apart. Use to be vacuum salesmen. But guessthey got tired of cleaningup dirt they spilt and no sales on theproduct.

Even have the Omaha Steakguy or someone like him, from time to time.But he gave up too. EvenSchwan man has given up on our neighborhood.We just aren't big buyers...

So why not these guys? Notonly they were pushy but condescending aswell. They were selling somekind of cleaner that you could even put it inyour mouth. Even when theneighbor who did buy one and came back to doa imitation act of thesalesman, we couldn't find a brand name on it.Weird.

So that is the reason whythe sign.. I have to find some place that makessigns and have a good onemade up (this one was in haste, incase theycame back.. Wonder if I sellsign maker the rights to make one like it ...will he give me a break onit. lol.. I never seen one worded like mine.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

It is hard to settle down, to thinkabout what to write.As the sun calls each morning.. Eventhe television hasbeen off more than it is on..

It is grab the paper, a cup of coffeeand the deck table calls.Basking in the sun of the morning,listening to the birds as theycall to each other.

When you never know what the weather isgoing to change toyou have to make a day of it, as thenext could be rain and wind.

So I have been having trouble settlingdown to a subject. Especiallywith our local politics calming backdown until November.Avisita as learn that dabbling into theNorthern Idaho politics isa money losing deal. We have loyalty here, and get annoyed bybig money trying to tell us who weshould vote for. All the nastyads were a waste of money as well.

So maybe politics will take a note ofcalmness for now, followingthe warm weather. Time to stop and smell the roses. Watch thebirds,and play in the dirt.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

I as I was washing my hands last night, I noticed,so many sores and scratches and just tired looking handsthat look so rough... It brought to my mind, Hank Snow'ssong about hands. Ican't remember all of the words.. onlya few here and there... it went something like this.....These hands arecalloused and oldIf these hands filledtheir task then what more could one askFor these fingershave worked to the boneWhile these handsbrought me happinessNow I'm tired and I'mold and I ain't got much goldTake a look at thesehard working handsSo true of my hands... they have served me well for these72 years. And while I don't feel thatold, I look down at theseold hands batter and rough, and theyhave brought mehappiness. As I have held my babies whohave grown toadults, and grandchildren and evengreat grandchildren.They have held the elderly as I tookcare of them over theyears of being an aide. And they havelet me hold on sotightly as life has given me a rollercoaster ride.Some times it makes me sad, as Irealize all that they havebeen thru... these hard working hands.And I have taken themfor granted up until recently, as Ifeel how they don't grip as well,as they use to. The jars are harder,the zip bags are harder.But as old and callous as they are,they still work well...Looking at these hard working hands...

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Well, today, I have to walkinto a building.. and it angers me that I amforced to say I am somethingI am not. For it I don't, I don't get to vote.

I have taken pride over theyears of voting for whom I thought wouldtry to do the best job.Never having to claim any party.. yet because Ilive in a flaming red state,that made it a law last year.. I have to proclaim,I am something that I amnot. A Republican. I am not... aDemocrat either.I am not there to lopsidethe election for November. I am there to see if Ican lend a hand to have somegood voting choices.

In the old days, there was aDemocrat and a Republican ticket. Well, therewas a few other ones butthose scare me. Heck, now they allscare me.But I never went to vote tomake it easier for the other party ... I just wantsome what I deem to be goodhonest people to run and not some radicalwho says they belong to theRepublican party.

See in Idaho we have about 4or 5 different kinds of Republicans.There is the good old ones.. and there is the Reagan Republican, theright wing conservative Republicans, and then there is the mid Republicans andlastly but far from last.. the TEA party Republicans. What the heck is thedifference I don't know.. I wonder if they do. But they are so paranoid, theyhave outlawed us, who have no party, so we can't vote. UNLESS we admit we areRepublican (thankfully we don't have to say which one).

So I will head down today,and sign a paper claiming to be a Republican.I wantto write ... only fortoday... but was told that is illegal...So I figure I would go in,and lie, just so I can vote. And thenafter I leave the building, I will be a Catholic while I am at it... and say.FORGIVE ME FATHER, FOR I HAVE SINNED... and then tell my self I have to do 10Hail Mary's. Justto get the taste out of mymind.

Monday, May 14, 2012

With my achy body, I will return to the yard this morning..Just as I have for the past couple of days.

We have been hauling rock ..river pebbles for the walk way.Cement for the straightening out of the leaning fence.Sand and brick tiles for extending our patio area.

Oh, because the weather can't make up it's mind, I have hauled my

30 some odd hanging baskets and planters in to the shed, out to the

lawn edge (where I am watching for half to get strong enough to be placed)

and to their hanging place... and then back to the shed again, and back

out and back in.. well, you get the idea.. As we have had freezing am's.

Finally I have said the heck with it.. they are out...they will survive.. or die..

those who die will be garbage,

I am tired of this merry-go-around.

So I leave you with this picture.. I saw it on Facebook.It reminded me of days gone past.. way, way, back.. lolTo my young years of helping mom do the wash. It wasa Maytag in our household. And I hated that machine.It was a chore that I wasn't crazy about because I am notgraceful. As I fed the mighty roller, I would be reachingfor the next item, as I watched the last one go thru. Butfor some reason as I fed the second one, some how.. somehow..... I would get my fingers stuck in the dang roller.Sometimes reaching mid palm by the time I was able tohit the release to pop the rollers apart.

God, I... hated... that... dang... machine.

Then Mom got an automatic.. it was a miracle of miracles.But then terror struck my heart as Dad rolled the old onearoundthe corner in the basement.. and he told me.....(I called ita threat.)"I am saving this for you, so when you get your ownplace."I fooled him, I moved across the country... don't know whatever happen to that dang machine.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

A unit between a man and a woman joined by a religious typeof ceremony. Meaningif you get married in a church, Synagogueor any religious building of your choice...by a Pastor,Priest, Rabbi,or another cleric type... . it is called a Marriage.

But if you were not joined in a church or any religionbuildingit should be defined as a civil union. Those of us who got married(opps, joined) in your back yard, in the forest, in thepark, on thebeach, in the ocean, in the air, flying thru the air, andetc...it is calleda Civil Union.. you do not have a marriage...

Marriage is strictly a religious term from now on.. Anotherone of thosepolitically correct terms. Oh, the Marriage group, can't have the wordmarried.. because that is a verb meaning joining...not onlyin wedding blissbut in welding two different objects and etc...

Wednesday, May 09, 2012

Might as well, have a public announcement, the way the mediabroadcast the fact the police tried this and that.. when somethinghappens...We caught them because we did this and that.. (well, crooksyou will have to try something else, because they know about that one.

Or the government and the airlines don't have the techabilities yet for checking you out to see if you have bomb next toyour kidney.

What the heck? I have stressed before... LOOSE LIPS SINKSHIPS..And the remark by the government official who was on CNN onTuesday, telling how we don't have the tech abilities ofsome search, seems to fall under that. What the heck is wrong withbluffing? Is there any rule or policy that states one can not lie tothe crooks?

The police and the government has done their fair share oflying to us in the past.. So why not for safety reasons. Heck ifanything we should lie about should be for the safety of the nation.

Won't let us profile people? Like the email states, if itwalks like a duck, quacks like a duck... it is 99.9% a duck. And if Ihave my choice I would error on the 99.9.

So many times we see some big official explaining how we dothings, what we can do and can't do. Be it the airlines checks orthe troops and planes. The less they know the better. What they don'tthinkthat terrorist have computers and television? The need to know is crap to me..

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

As we start the race, even tho they haven't gone thru the conventionsyet..we all ready have the grand slams..

And as we all know that there is truth, lies, spins and twist. And of course, the biggestone of all.. TELL THEM ANYTHING THEY WANT TO HEAR. we can doas we please later game... They all do it.. no matter what party you are talking about.

But here we are 3 years later, and we are slightly better off than we were before.Companies are recovering.. BUY AMERICAN is helping out a lot of companies.Which gives jobs. Some people can insure their kidsstill on their health policies. And not so many houses are going into foreclosures.

But we have a long way to go yet. There are some people who are getting jobs,but still we are standing at 8.5. Stock market is till a roller coaster thanks, to foreigncountries. Interest rates are still in the toilet. I mean, part of 1 per cent, really? Loans are hard to get.

So of the two, who do you think is really going to turn this whole mess aroundand have the 500,000 a month jobs as Mr. Romney seems to think is the going rate..didn't hear how he propose to do that, and for that matter, he didn't say he would..he just raised the bar that high. And if he gets in.. the American people who believein him.. will expect him to do it.. and do it in 2 months.After all they were calling for Obama's head 2 months after he got in, becausehe had not taken care of the countries ills by that time.

But of either one of them.. who is really going to do something great? I know evenif I had the best of the best in each division... I know I couldn't get it done. There areto many variables involved. And as we know, they aren't all here in America.So unless we start making EVERY thing here in America... and not only sell here, butoverseas as well... and don't buy overseas.. then .. and only then, we mightcome flying out of this hole. But I sure hope you aren't holding your breath.

Nope, I wouldn't want to be President in 2013.It will be like the old English days, of OFF WITH HIS HEAD... when theyfind out who ever wins, has feet of clay.And I am telling you by the end of 2013.. I will be totally shocked ifwe are out of this mess that Bush and his cronies made. And yes, I do blame iton Bush. He had 8 full years to throw us to the wolves.. and did greatly. My little pithy stock was worth twice what it is now, just a month before Mr. Bushcame in to office. A year later... sliced in half.. and that is before anyone evenknew who Obama was.

Yep, this will be interesting.. and as I said before Obama was voted in, I don't put muchstock into who is President.. it is the cabinet and the congress people whoworry me. And of course we have little to no control over that.